Welt shoe



Jan. l13, 1942. Y D, R BRADY 2,269,427

WELT SHOE Filed May 17, 19159` ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 13,

NT; oFFICE This invention relates to ythe construction `,of

shoes and has4 for`- its primaryobjectto provide an improved insole, from the standpoint of durability, and also from thestandpoint ofcomfortto the wearer. .v

to provide aninsole with-anupstanding rib and to attach the shoe upper and a iwelt to the'insole by sewing` them tothe rib by asystemknown as inseaming.r The outsole 4is attached tothe welt by a lockstitch seam which .thus :indirectly secures it tothe insole.` With this method. of attaching the shoe upper andthe ioutsole tothe insole the upstanding `ribs constitute what-.might be termed the connecting `link betweenfthemainparts of the shoe, and thereiore-arethecontroll It iscommon practicein manufacturing shoes ling factor as to durability. AThemain objectof f this invention, more specically'stated, is to provide a shoe insole having a rib, construction of great durability and so constructed Aas toj .avoid discomfort to the foot 0f the wearer. A common method of forming an insole having an upstanding rib consists in providing a comparatively thick blank, cutting two opposed channels adjacent the edge of the blank to form two opposed lips, bending the lips back to back and cementing them together to form the 'rib.

This method is satisfactory from the standpoint of convenient attachment of the welt and shoe upper to the insole, but results in deformation of the insole after the shoe has been worn a short time. Forming the lips as an'integral part of the insole requires cutting away and weakening of portions of the insole, and the weakened portions tend to collapse and form furrows which are a source of discomfort to the wearer. In this respect it is another object of the invention to'provide an upstanding rib construction as a separate element and to attach it to the insole in Vsuch manner that its presence is not a cause of deformation.

Another object is to provide an insole having an upstanding rib constructed and attached thereto in such manner as to reinforce the insole.

In the case of ordinary shoes, for street wear, it is desirable that the region adjacent the arch of the wearer should be stiffer than the remainder, to thereby afford additional support for the longitudinal arch of the foot. This condition is especially desirable in corrective shoes, `worn to correct foot deformities or to relieve discomfort due to weakened arches etc. In the case of athletic shoes, the conditions are different, and in many cases it is desirable that the sole be stiier than the shank portion thereof. For example,

basebalL. football, l track and ffeld' shoes `require that :the portion adjacent the arch be highly exible, and that the remainder ber comparatively stii.'- Accordingly, 'itis another object of this inventio'nto teach 'theuse of reinforcing means so constructed as to provide portions of varying ilexibility. f

Another object is to provide .an -insole having a ller member secured .thereto and coacting therewith in such manner .as to :provide a highly resilientv insole, with improved cushioning conditions. In this .respect afiller composed .of cork andlatex rubberuis. secured within the recess formed A.bythe reinforcing rib. The filler has a portion thereof` removed to permit inseaming of a welt to the frib, `and after the welt issecured to the insole thefremoved portion of the `ller is re'- placed and -servesto support the region of the insole inwardly;l adjacentjthe rib.

Another objectQis. to `provide an greater exibility :longitudinally .than laterally.

Other. objects landfadvantages lwill `become f more fully apparent as reference is had to the accompanying drawing wherein myinvention is illustrated, and in which: y

Fig. lis a bottom plan of an insole, showing a modied filler,

Fig. 2 is av section taken on the line 2-2of Fig. 1',

Fig. 3v is abottom plan, corresponding to 1, with a welt and upper secured to the insole,

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, f v

Fig. 5 is a plan of a ller insert,v Fig. 6 is a fragmental section illustrating Ya modified ller, and

rib 1| within the groove 13.

Fig. 7 Ais a fragmental section illustrating a filler formed of an elastic plastic.

The composite insole shown in Figs. 1 to 5 is designed for use in a shoe having a welt extending continuously therearound. It is formed of comparatively thin sheetmaterial 11 such as leather and a lle'r IU of material such as rubberized cork. `The filler 'Ill is provided with a portion of reduced thickness by cutting away amarginal portion thereofto form a marginal groove The sheet lmaterial 'H overlies the planar face of theller 10 and extends around the edge thereof into the groove 13. The sheet material 'il is-bent downwardly to provide an upstanding The rib 1| is reinforced by a strip of angular cross section, as illustrated, whichis secured to the rib and to the bottom of the groove 13 by an adhesive.

A shoe-upper 14 and a welt 15 are secured to insole having the rib 1l and to the strip of angular cross section above mentioned by inseam stitching as illustrated in Fig. 4. l

The portion of the ller member 'l0 which Was removed to form the marginal groove 13 is so trimmed that it forms a filler element 16 which fits between the rib 'Il and said strip of angular cross section and the adjacent Wall of the groove '13. After attachment of the upper and Welt to the insole, as above described, the ller element 16 is secured in the groove I3 by an adhesive. The insole is then ready for attachment of an outsole thereto by stitching the outsole to the Welt in the usual manner.

The insole is illustrated without a fabric liner on the insole, but in some cases it is contemplated that a liner of light fabric will be used. In the event a liner is used it is secured in place by an adhesive in the manner above described. It is to be noted that with or without a liner the filler here describedfprovides support for the region of the insole immediately adjacent and inward of the reinforcing means, and vthereby prevents deformation of the insole in this region after the shoe is worn. The filler 'I0 and the element I6 are slit transversely to enable flexing of the insole.

In order to prevent deformation of the insole by` collapse in the region immediately adjacent the reinforcing means a cork fillet-like insert 80 maybe secured to the insole as illustrated in Fig. 6. The insert 80 is shaped to fit in the angle formed by the Yreinforcement 8| and the cork liner 82 of the insole B3, and is glued to both the reinforcementand the liner. A layer 84 of nonstretching fabric is interposed between the insert 80 and the reinforcement and liner.

The present insole may be provided with a liner of highly resilient rubber, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The insole 85 has a reinforcement 86 and a cork liner 81 secured thereto, and a fabric covering 88 applied thereto in the manner above described. A layer 89 of elastic material such as sponge or Airfoam rubber is secured by an adhesive in the trough-like recess defined by the reinforcement and the cork liner.

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe assembly comprising an insole composed of thin sheet material and a filler member of comparatively greater thickness, said filler member having a portion 'thereof removed to provide a marginal portion of reduced thickness or a groove encircling the insole, said sheet material being bent around the edge of said filler member into said groove and having an upstand- .ing portion constituting a welt attaching rib, said rib being so related with the wall of said groove as to enable inseam stitching of a welt and up- 'per to said rib, a welt and an upper, inseam stitching securing said Welt and upper to said rib, and a ller element preformed to fit between the wall of the groove and the adjacent surface of said rib, said filler element being secured in said groove by an adhesive.

2'. A shoe assembly comprising an insole composed of thin sheet material and a filler member of comparatively greater thickness, said filler member having a vportion thereof removed to provide a marginal portion of reduced thickness or a groove encircling the insole, said sheet material being bent around the edge of said ller member into said ,groove and having an upstanding portion constituting a welt attaching rib, a strip of angular cross section secured to the bottom of said groove and to said rib and reinforcing the rib, said rib and strip being so related with the Wall of said groove as to enable inseam stitching of a Welt and upper to said rib and strip, a welt and an upper, inseam stitching securing said welt and upper to said rib, and a filler element preformed to t between the Wall `of the groove and the adjacent surface of said rib, and said ller element being secured in said groove by an adhesive.

- DAVID R. BRADY. 

